DHAKA: Bangladesh Mohila Parishad Kendriya Committee Chairperson Ayesha Khanam on Tuesday said some 304 women were raped across the country in the last six months (January-June, 2014).

She made the disclosure while addressing a press conference at National Press Club in the city.

Ayesha Khanam said, “Some 304 women, of whom 82 were gang raped, were raped in the first six months of 2014 according to the statistics of Bangladesh Mohila Parishad.”

“Some 45 women were killed after they were raped. Besides, 127 were killed and 90 were tortured over dowry related incidences; some 80 committed suicide due to unbearable torture and 15 were targeted to fatwa,” she added.

Ayesha also said that this kind of torture in the country is on the rise.

She also said various incidences like the killing, kidnapping and torturing of political leaders and activists and humanitarian aid workers, created panic among the countrymen.

She also came out with 18 recommendations to ensure the safety of all walks of people irrespective of religion, cast, gender, class, the independence of judiciary to ensure the rule of law and order, to accelerate the trial of war criminals, not to give political shelter to the criminals and the administrations behaving impartially.

General secretary of the organization Maleka Banu and executive committee member Kazi Sufia Akhter Sheuli were among others present at the press meet.

BDST: 1715 HRS, AUG 05, 2014